Is Chocolate Vegan? A Quick Guide To Vegan Chocolate
July 19, 2022
My favorite thing about chocolate is that it’s always in season! Whether there is a special occasion or I’m just feeling blue, it can easily make the day better. And with all the types of chocolate in the market right now, is there really a vegan chocolate?
Well, to my vegan chocolate lovers out there, the answer is yes. The world has adapted and there is an abundance of vegan chocolatiers already.
But What is Vegan Chocolate?
Chocolate can be vegan, since it is made from cacao beans which are from the cacao trees. So, technically, it’s a plant-based food. Some even says it’s a fruit, or a vegetable. 😉
Cacao is a tropical tree whose scientific name translates to “food of the gods” in Greek. Cacao pods grow from the trunk of the Theobroma cacao tree. The seeds, which are the cocoa beans, will then be processed into chocolate and cocoa powder.
So, yes, chocolate can be vegan. It only gets complicated when cacao nibs are processed with added ingredients (such as milk) to create chocolate bars.
We can say that vegan chocolate is chocolate that is made without using ingredients from animals. How do we know if a chocolate bar is vegan or not?
An important step is to check the list of ingredients. Chocolate bars with minimal ingredients are safest since pure chocolate bars are made with chocolate liquor and cacao butter, and sometimes with added sugar or vanilla.
Is Dark Chocolate Vegan?
Some brands that make dark chocolates are allowed to add milk fat or butter fat, made from dairy, which technically makes it a non-vegan product. So, it’s best to always double check the label.
These brands offer a great selection of vegan dark chocolates that are worth to try: Alter Eco, Theo Chocolate, and Equal Exchange. Some exciting flavors of chocolate that are vegan come from Raaka Chocolate Company.
Speaking of dark chocolates, high quality ones with at least 50% cocoa content, are great options for vegans. In fact, the higher the cocoa content is, the more benefits there are. According to research, dark chocolate contains antioxidants called flavonoids, that are good for lowering blood pressure and inflammation in the body.
And since being vegan is not a one-size-fits-all, each one follows their own diet and lifestyle. You may consider honey as an animal product, but others don’t. So best to also keep that in mind when checking for which ingredients are acceptable for you.
Not a Fan of Super Dark Chocolates?
Here are some ways to incorporate them in your daily diet. I’ve been wanting to transition from milk to dark chocolates myself.
With all the alternatives in the market right now, it’s normal to get confused on which type to get or which brand to try. Best practice is to always check the label and make sure there isn’t any strange ingredient in the list. When in doubt, choose a higher cacao percentage or at least 70% dark chocolate with a “vegan” certification!
How about you? Do you like vegan chocolate? Which brands have you tried and loved? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and don’t forget to follow our Facebook and Twitter accounts for more fun and interesting chocolatey ideas!
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